“it was worth it”, Bolek gave heartfelt words tot he fight for freedom that he fought in Driel. He spoke these words in the video conversation that we had with him on his 104th birthday. His actions, his words, the lasting example that he is, he leaves behind. We are immensely grateful to him!

Yesterday at the end of the day we received the immensely sad news from his daughter that Bolek Ostrowski, the last living veteran of the First Polish Independant Parachute Brigade, has passed away. Bolek was 105 years old and passed away in Canada where he lived. We wish the family and loved ones all the strength and courage.

In the information centre in the Roman Catholic Church in Driel there is a book in which you can entrust your thoughts and a final message for this last Driel-Poland veteran to paper. The information centre is open every day from 09.00 to 17.00.

Bolek came from the part of Poland that is now located in Ukraine. During the war he was trained as a radio operator. In 1942 he was able to reach the United Kingdom via Asia, Africa and South America where he joined te parachute brigade of General Sosabowski. As a radio operator he was deployable and was dropped with a large part of the brigade above Driel as part of Operation Market Garden. Bolek’s radio set turned out to be the only reliable line tot he soldiers around Oosterbeek. Because the Germans were able to locate the radio, he spent the days in Driel under heavy artillery bombardment.